Final Post for 2007 Seattle Mission Trip

We are going to have an early morning tomorrow to start our trip back home so this will end our reports from Suquamish, WA. So what have we taken away from this trip? We have understood that the relationships that have been built and the ones that are continuing to be cultivated between us and the Suquamish people are very special and make a difference in the lives of everyone involved. Suquamish is a beautiful place and are a beautiful people who appreciate the work that we do and the love that we offer to them. We must remember that what we do here is making a difference for the next generation here on Suquamish. We must remember that the lives that have been touched over the last 10 years are going to pass on what they have experienced on to the younger ones for a better future for Suquamish. What we do here is not of our own power, will or might but by the grace and love of Jesus Christ. He is the reason we do this kind of work. He is the reason we live and exist. The work that is done out here must continue to exist. The people here look forward to this group coming out every year and sharing Christ with everyone. This group, affectionately known as "the Alabama group" has gained a reputation as people who care genuinely about the Suquamish. We are excited that a little taste of Virginia has been able to be a part of this ministry and we hope that we can continue to be a part of this group. Hopefully the next time we write this post we will have just arrived on a plane into Seattle, unloaded of the Bainbridge Island Ferry and just checked into the Island Country Inn planning to start another amazing week of ministry to the Suquamish people. So long!

Chief Seattle Days

Our morning started off a bit on the slow side. We were told to be in a particular parking lot by 10:00 am for the start of the parade and when we arrived there was no one there. Eventually others began to arrive and finally at 11:00 am we began to move. We were a little unsure as to what we were supposed to do in this parade. We did not have any candy to hand out, nothing to ride on and nothing fantastic to do. So we began walking down the road following behind a bunch of old restored cars still unsure as to what was going on. As we approached the area where everyone was standing we began to wave which is what you are supposed to do in a parade. When we got to the main part of the road where the majority of everyone was standing, all of a sudden a large group of people started cheering when they saw us. The cheering continued as we kept walking. It was totally unexpected and very humbling. It really shows how much of an impact we have had on this community not just this week but but even the last 10 years.

Chief Seattle Days was a lot of fun and very interesting. One of Erica's favorite things was the all the regalia of the dancers. One of Michael's favorite things was the salmon...oh and the Indian Tacos...oh and the fry bread. Mmmmm!! The canoe races were really neat to watch. They went on all day long and had 25 different categories of competitions. All ages competed from little 9 and 10 year olds all the way up to adults.

One of Caitlin's favorite things at Chief Seattle Days was the shopping at the booths and of course the food. There were about 30 - 40 booths set up selling all kids of hand carved and hand made crafts and jewelry. You did have to be careful though because a few people were not selling authentic crafts. Regardless, the handmade stuff was beautiful. There were Native Americans from the Southwest all the way up to the Alaskan shoreline. This was truly an incredible event to be a part of and to witness.

Downtown Seattle and Group Dinner

Once we left Kiana we were off to the ferry for Seattle! Some older teenage Suquamish girls joined us for the venture to Seattle and it was great to have them along. Once we got there our first place was Pike Place Market. This is a fun and hopping place. At the Fish Market the workers there are famous for the fun way the entertain the guests by their hollering and repeating of orders that are made as well as tossing fish to a worker our in the crowd from behind the counter. Some of our girls had first hand experience in this. These guys are professionals, they know how to pick the right people out of the crowd. Brittany was teased by one of the guys with a small little minnow of a fish when he dangled it in her face and chased her a few steps with it. We all were laughing as well as the crowd. She was a good sport about it, for the most part. The same guy dropped the same fish into Alison's purse and she was so bothered by this that she threw away some of the items that touched it and smelled like the fish. The guy did get his bubble burst when after all that he thought he would get Erica by having her hold a huge craw fish. She held it with no real reaction but just interest in the little exoskeleton critter.

From there most of us split up into different groups to venture into different places. Some stayed in the Market and shopped and looked around. Others visited the shops on the near by streets whereas others rode the monorail and traveled to the top of the Space Needle.

Everyone made it back to the ferry in time and then we were off to Suquamish to see the ceremonial canoes arrive to the shoreline with the reigning Chief Seattle Days Princess. We were there for just a short bit to do this and to peruse the many booths selling authentic Indian items. The major part of Chief Seattle Days begins tomorrow with the traditional parade by all the dancers and other tribal people who have traveled to participate in the pow-wow. Our group has had the distinguished honor of being invited to be a part of the parade due to all of our hard work and constant dedication to the Suquamish people. They are very appreciative of all of the work we have done here this week.

After we left Suquamish, we went back to the hotel to get "prettied" up for a nice group dinner in Poulsbo out on the water. This was a nice affair and it was great to actually eat a meal with our whole group together. So tomorrow we will be off to Chief Seattle Days for all of the festivities and all of the scrumptious Salmon the Suquamish people will prepare.

Off to Kiana

In the last three years the Suquamish people have acquired land and have reestablished a beautiful event facility called Kiana Lodge. They have over 100 weddings a year at Kiana as well as other large events. This place is a beautiful retreat for not just special occasions but a perfect place to come and roam around to see some amazing scenery. There are all kids of flowers and trees planted along bricked pathways and rich green manicured lawns. All of this over looks the water of the sound to add to its beauty. This was a great place for many photo opps and a time to just rest in God's beauty. The word Kiana means, "Garden of the Gods."

One interesting fact about Kiana is that within the last year they purchased a house adjacent to the property that was owned by Rebecca Wells, the author of the Ya Ya Sisterhood books. Another interesting tidbit is that Kiana is the place where the TV show Twin Peaks filmed numerous scenes or used certain places/buildings for various settings such as Pete's house and the interior of the Great Northern. There is also a massive log on the shoreline which is where the famous scene of Laura's body was found under.

Please look at the pictures from this beautiful place.

Worship With Calvary Church

Tonight, Calvary Church in Poulsbo, served us dinner and invited us to join in on their Thursday night worship/Bible study time. They have a heart for the Suquamish people and were really excited about the work that we have done this week. The food, worship, and discussion was excellent. It is great to be in communion with people who live in another part of our country who worships the same God we do and desires to share the same message of Jesus Christ to the sweet special people of Suquamish.

VBS has come to a close.

Our morning started off in an incredible way. A bald eagle flew around by the church and landed on the pier we were literally just feet away from this wild majestic animal. It was incredible. This was the third eagle we have seen this week! We saw a golden eagle earlier flying over the church. Yesterday Joe spotted a bald eagle sitting at the top of a tree and then today we saw the other bald eagle. The Native Americans have a belief that when an eagle flies over a place where a group is meeting, it means that the Creator is showing favor upon you and your group! So what a great way to start the day!

Today's Bible Point was God is in Charge. WAAAAAAAHOOOOOOO!!! And the Bible verse for today was, "If You love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15

Caitlin and Elizabeth left their crew bag at the hotel so Michael had to go back and get it for them once VBS started. While Michael was gone, Caitlin and the other music leaders led the kids in the songs and they did a great job. The kids were totally excited about singing the songs and sang their hearts out since it was the last time for them.

It was Sybil's turn to teach the lesson today and her lesson was about Naaman. Naaman had leprosy and Elisha told him to bathe in the Jordan River to rid himself of the leprosy. He did as Elisha told him and he was healed. Sybil had the crew leaders take an onion and rub the onion on the back of the kids' hands. This is representative of the leprosy on Naaman. Then the crew leaders took the child's hand and stuck it under water and began to rub the back of a spoon over the spot where the onion was rubbed. The amazing thing is that the onion smell disappears! This is representative of Naanam washing himself in the river and being cleansed of the leprosy. This kids were amazed!!

For crafts Alison had the kids make magnet mazes. The kids were able to draw their own maze on a piece of paper and then placed a raised plastic cover over the maze so as to allow metal pieces in the maze to be guided by a magnet from the underside. This represented how we need to let God be our guide and take us through the maze of life because God is in Charge. WAAAAAAHOOOOO!!!

The day closed with giving the kids all of the decorations and other unused projects and small items from Bible school. They were excited to get these but they were sad to go. The fun thing is that we will get to see the kids again at Chief Seattle Days.

The Round Up Rally

Eleven 24"x 18" pizzas, 15 gallons of lemonade, 100-125 people and tons of fun!! That's what the Round Up Rally consisted of. Not to mention we had around 20 give aways filled with books, Cd's, DVDs and devotionals. The kids did a superb job on their songs and Bible verses. Cindy worked with a couple of the local girls and they did an interpretive dance which included sign language. The worship team from Calvary Chapel came and helped lead in worship. They were a full band consisting of multiple instruments, numerous singers and a harmonica. Michael also shared the Gospel with the crowd. Afterwards, a few people responded by asking some of our group to pray with them. All in all it was a great evening that ended with an impromptu worship time with our group in the little church. It was a special time for all of us.